The then Mayor of Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District, Cllr Hazel Smyth, cutting the ribbon at the official opening of the Milltownpass Woodland and Bog Trail in February. Also in the photo, from left, Ronan Lynskey, chairman, Milltownpass Tidy Towns, Cathryn Hannon, regional manager of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Ger Dunne, from Dalystown, of the National Parks and Wildlife Service; National Parks and Wildlife Service conservation ranger, Therese Kelly, and Carl Byrne, National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Westmeath peatlands initiative gets funding boost

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Milltownpass Tidy Towns is to receive over €8,000 as part of this year’s Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme.

The funding for Milltownpass Tidy Towns is part of a €290,000 tranche for 24 local community groups and organisations to support a variety of local projects across Ireland under the Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme 2023.

Led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme encourages local initiatives to conserve and revitalise raised and blanket bogs – particularly protected bogs and fens – and promotes public engagement with our natural heritage and environment. The scheme primarily supports community-led projects and volunteer groups, who play a vital role in helping to promote and implement peatland conservation and restoration in Ireland.

Projects approved this year include €8,549 for Milltownpass Tidy Towns to continue to develop the bog and woodland trail and to engage the community by recording a video that will be used to promote and showcase the site.

Projects to benefit from this funding in 2023 span across Ireland including Galway, Westmeath, Kildare, Longford, Offaly, Kerry, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth, Tipperary, Limerick, Laois, Cork, Donegal and Dublin.

Announcing the funding, which has been operating since 2018, Minister Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform stated that he was delighted to see the diverse range of initiatives put forward by such active community and volunteer groups and environmental organisations.

“Communities play a vital role in the mission of the National Parks and Wildlife Service to protect nature. Peatlands in Ireland are often at the heart of these communities. This funding will support the work that local communities and volunteers do as custodians of our natural heritage. Our peatlands are places of serenity and a wonderful showcase of what nature has to offer hosting a huge variety of plants, supporting animals and rare species who have adapted to life in the bogs. The bogs of Ireland are places that epitomise community spirit and I am delighted to be able to continue to support community organisations and others in their efforts to embrace nature and support biodiversity," Minister Noonan said.

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